Ian Clark's Third Post Rumble 2018 Raw Recap - Feb. 12, 2018

Tonight our regular Raw recapper Ian Clark at 8 PM ET covers Raw for Feb. 12th, 2018 -- that's right it's the second Raw after the Royal Rumble! Please hit F5 or refresh while the show is in progress for the latest updates.

Raw opens with John Cena hitting the ring. "The past is the past, it's all about being right here, and right now we are live on Monday Night Raw, on the road to Wrestlemania! And people are jumping up and down in their seats because they know the importance of Wrestlemania! If you're watching at home, if you're here tonight, if you're in the back, you're on the edge of your seat! Wrestlemania can make a Superstar's career. Wrestlemania can bring a Superstar back from the dead. And Wrestlemania is the most important night of a Superstar's year. Every week, we get new answers as to who's going to get a chance to step up. So I have to accept facts. I have to win the Elimination Chamber. Because if I don't, for the first time in 15 years, I may not have a road to Wrestlemania. So for those opposed to me winning at Wrestlemania, here is my path: I have to win the most unwinnable match in WWE, then go on to Wrestlemania to face the most unbeatable champion in WWE history. To those opposed, it may seem impossible, but you know how much I like to make the impossible possible. So I will win Elimination Chamber, I will go on to Wrestlemania, and I will make history when I beat Brock Lesnar!"

Miz comes out. "You're going to go on to main event Wrestlemania? John, this isn't 2013, this is 2018, the year of The Miz. Maybe you've been spending too much time in Hollywood and you can't distinguish between fantasy and reality, you think you're going to go to Wrestlemania and beat Brock Lesnar? You're the founding father of Suplex City! I'm going to go on to Wrestlemania, because that's where this title belongs. And I'm going to be the first man ever to be Intercontinental and Universal Champion."

"I know some people like you, but a dude in the front row, in a Braves jersey, is laughing at that comment. You think you could beat Brock Lesnar? You have no chance. Well, okay, statistically there's a chance. He could miss a flight, he could get food poisoning, he could be frozen in a block of ice. But if that match makes it in a ring, it's most likely your last match."

"You made the same mistake everyone does, you tried to beat Brock at his own game. I'd use my strengths, I'd use my brain. I'd do what has to be done, that's why I win matches, I do what other people aren't willing to do. I go to places you won't, and that's why I beat Roman Reigns for the Intercontinental Championship."

"You're talking awfully big for someone who still has to make it through Elimination Chamber."

"Hey, it wouldn't be the first time I outsmarted someone in the main event of Wrestlemania. After all, I did it to you."

"You know, you sure love to run your mouth, and every so often you find a weaselly way to back it up. You know what? I think we might be in Miz country. What do you say we have John Cena vs. The Miz in the middle of this ring? And what do you say we make it special? The loser of the match has to enter the Chamber first."

"You think I'm stupid? You think I don't know the person who enters the chamber first has the worst chance? Why would I take that risk?"

Miztourage beat Cena down.

Miz: "Why would I take that risk? Because I'm smarter than you. Get a referee out here."

Kurt Angle comes out instead. "That's not how tonight is going to start off. We are going to have a match, and I like that the loser of this will enter the chamber last. So let's get a referee out here. But speaking of Elimination Chamber, Bo and Curtis? You're eliminated from ringside."

Back on the air, Miz knocks Cena off the apron, rolls to the floor, tosses Cena into the barricade, into the ring, top rope knee drop for two, inner thigh attack, another, blocked, Cena with a dropkick for two, knee drop for two, Miz with knees to the gut, punch to the back, another, running big boot for two, punches in the corner, Cena with an elbow, tornado DDT for two, Miz with a sleeper, transitions to a backpack sleeper, Cena drops to his knees, Miz transitions to a rear naked choke, commercial.

Back on air, Cena drops a 5-knuckle shuffle, AA, blocked in the ropes, Miz hits a Miz Combo for two, it turns out that actually wasn't supposed to be the end of the commercial break so the screen goes black, back on air for real this time, Skull Crushing Finale, blocked, Cena goes for an AA, reversed into a sunset flip, into a Figure Four, Cena rolls him into an STF, Miz makes it to the ropes, rolls to the floor, trips Cena, goes up top, crossbody, reversed into an AA, blocked, Miz kicks him in the knee, kneeling dropkick for two, hanging clothesline in the corner, charges, Cena catches him for an AA for two, Cena goes up top, Miz trips him, Figure Four, Cena again eventually rolls him out, into a crossface, Miz makes it to the bottom rope again, break, Skull Crushing Finale for two, drags Cena up top, goes for a Skull Crushing Finale, Cena blocks, lifts him up, Super AA for three.

Winner: John Cena

Woken Matt, backstage, says the Seven Deities have blessed him with the strength to turn the other three competitors in tonight's main event obsolete. He vows to turn the Elimination Chamber into the Deletion Chamber.

Backstage, Gallows and Anderson call The Revival nerds with the aid of the Nerd-O-Meter graphic.

Match Two: The Club vs. The Revival

The Revival attack The Club during their entrance. The Club still demand to start the match.

Gallows and Dawson start off, trading punches, Gallows with punches in the corner, knocks Dash off the apron, punch to Dawson, tosses him across the ring, punches, whip, big boot, back body drop to an interfering Dash, who gets beaten down by Anderson on the floor, back in the ring, Gallows clotheslines Dash over the top rope, Dawson with a chop block, commercial.

Back on the air, Dawson is punching Gallows in the knee, Dash in, knee drop to the knee, punch to the back, knee wrench, Gallows with punches, Dawson in, Gallows with a superkick, double tag, Anderson with a pair of clotheslines, whip, reversed, hits a running single leg dropkick, running kick in the corner, goes up top, blockbuster, Dawson tries to interfere, Gallows pulls him to the floor, punch, Dawson throws him into the steel steps, Anderson grabs Dawson, Dash with a rollup with tights for two, Anderson with a spinebuster, Dash presses him to the apron, Dawson in, Anderson with punches to both men, whip to Dash, reversed, Dawson runs in, Shatter Machine for three.

Winners: The Revival

They show a clip show of the tag title match last week.

Kurt Angle hits the ring. "I come out here tonight with mixed emotions. In two weeks at Elimination Chamber, Ronda Rousey will be signing her Monday Night Raw contract. The other news is that last night, after Raw went off the air, my son Jason Jordan and I went to a local medical facility. They informed us that he had suffered an injury to his neck, and he needed neck surgery. He will be out of commission, and he will miss Wrestlemania. You know, I try to stay calm and collected, but tonight I speak to you not as the General Manager, but as a father. If any of you get joy from hearing that a WWE Superstar is injured and will miss Wrestlemania, you should feel ashamed of yourselves. I know Jason Jordan might not be your favourite WWE Superstar, but he is a Superstar, and he is my son. All I'm asking is that you wish him get well wishes on his return. Whether you agree with me or not, that's up to you, but I'm just asking you--"

Seth Rollins hits the ring. "Kurt, look, I'm sorry about Jason, man, honestly, I was hard on him last week, but the truth is, he's a good kid and he's in a tough spot. I should know. Truthfully, a few years ago I was there. A few years ago, I was WWE Champion. Matter of fact, I won it a few miles from here at Levi Stadium. Cashed in my Money in the Bank contract, beat Roman Reigns, beat Brock Lesnar, became the champion. Then I got hurt, had to give up the title, and missed Wrestlemania. And missing Wrestlemania made me realize, Wrestlemania moments are not guaranteed. I don't have a title, or a briefcase, or even a match at Elimination Chamber."

"Well I know last week, I told you it would be your last shot at the Tag Team Championships, but what do you say we find you another partner?"

"With all due respect, thanks but no thanks. When you brought me here, you said you wanted to make me a mainstay of Monday Night Raw. Right now, I don't even want to be a part of Monday Night Raw. I don't want to be a part of Monday Night Raw, I want to be Monday Night Raw. I want to turn this into Monday Night Rollins again. I want to go on to Wrestlemania, to beat Brock Lesnar. And the only way I can do that is to win Elimination Chamber."

"I appreciate what you're doing, but I can't just cancel the main event tonight."

"I'm not asking you to cancel it. I'm just saying what if we take the second-chance Fatal Four Way and make it a Fatal Five Way and put me in the match!"

"That really wouldn't be fair to the four other wrestlers, four other Superstars. Don't put me in a bad spot."

"That's not what I'm trying to do. But I bust my ass in this ring every week for you, I'm just asking for a shot!"

"It's not up to you, it's not up to me. It's up to all of them. Do you want to see Seth Rollins in tonight's main event? (cheers) Well then we've got our main event, and it's a Fatal Five Way!"

Backstage, Bray Wyatt says Matt Hardy is a fool in need of help, and he knows how to fix him. He says he's a hungry shark, and he needs to feed, then slay the Beast.

Match Five: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley

Bayley with a rollup for one, backslide for zero, arm wrench, arm breaker, rollup for one, Sasha with a boot to the gut, whip to the corner, Bayley with an elbow, springboard arm drag, dropkick, Sasha shoves Bayley to the corner, punches, armbar, reversed into a side headlock, Sasha whips out, Bayley with a shoulder tackle, rollup for one, reversed into the Banks Statement, blocked, Sasha with a rollup for one, arm breaker, whip, hip toss, running double knees for two, arm breaker, forearm, tosses Bayley to the floor, holds the ropes open for Bayley, then dropkicks her off the apron, rolls to the floor, tosses Bayley into the ring, Bayley tosses her to the corner, shoulder tackles, misses one, Sasha rolls to the apron, drops Bayley's arm across the top rope, commercial.

Back on air, Sasha has Bayley in a straightjacket hold, punches to the gut, arm breaker, cover for two, sets Bayley up sideways, Bayley lifts her, staggers, Sasha slides off, running double knees, goes for it again, Bayley with a clothesline, trading punches, Sasha with a slap, Bayley with a double leg, mounted punches, Sasha with a forearm, Bayley with shoulder tackles in the corner, side suplex, hangman's stunner, cover for two, Sasha with a jaw breaker, Bayley with a kick to the face, goes up top, misses an elbow drop, Sasha locks in the Banks Statement, Bayley makes it nearly to the ropes, Sasha blocks with a boot on the rope, Bayley makes it anyway, trips Sasha into the turnbuckle, Sasha with a big boot, goes up top, Bayley tackles her, follows, forearms, superplex, blocked, Sasha with punches, shove, Bayley follows, Super Bayley to Belly for three!

Winner: Bayley

Bayley offers Sasha a handshake, she takes it, Bayley attempts to shove Sasha out of the way of Nia Jax, but fails. Nia tackles them both, then floors them both with a Samoan Drop each.

Charly Caruso asks on the ramp why she did that. She says those two have brought Asuka to her limit, and she destroyed both of them in seconds. She says she can break the streak at Elimination Chamber.

Backstage, Roman Reigns accuses Seth Rollins of politicking his way into the match tonight. Rollins asks if Reigns is afraid, Roman says he'll eliminate him from the Chamber just like he did the Rumble. Sheamus and Cesaro walk in, and Sheamus says that, given Rollins' track record, he'll just fail tonight. Cesaro asks if Jordan and Ambrose are in physical therapy together complaining about Rollins as a partner. Roman reminds Cesaro that his teeth were at the hands of The Shield, then tells Sheamus he'll get it tonight.

They show a video package for Asuka.

Renee Young introduces Titus Worldwide, and asks Crews about his match tonight. Titus interrupts and says he'll handle it. He does the interview instead, and asks Crews if he's prepared for each of his opponents. Crews says he'll beat them all.

Mickie James asks Alexa Bliss why she ran down to help her last week. Bliss says she's tired of these new kids trying to run Raw. Then she apologizes for how she's treated Mickie the past few months. She admits she was just jealous. Mickie asks what she wants. Bliss says that, if Absolution team up in the Chamber, everyone else is screwed. Mickie says she appreciates what Bliss did last week, and tonight they're teammates, but it's every woman for herself at the Chamber.

Rose and James start off, Mickie with a side headlock, Mandy hip tosses her way out, Mickie with a side headlock, Mandy whips out, Mickie with a tackle, Deville in, Mickie beats her around the ring, Bliss in, knee drop, another for two, Deville with punches to the gut, Bliss with a trip, Mickie back in, punches for two, Deville with shoulder tackles in the corner, Mickie with punches, knocks Rose off the top rope, Deville with a punch for two, Rose in, Deville with punches to the gut, Rose with stomps, abdominal stretch, Mickie hip tosses her way out, Paige with a distraction, Sonya pulls Bliss off the apron, Mickie goes up top, Mandy pulls her off for three.

Winners: Absolution

After a commercial, Elias is in the ring. He introduces himself in the usual way.

"I must say, it's not great to be in San Jose. The great thing about this city is, it's only an hour away from a real city like San Francisco. Who am I kidding, every city in California is a toxic dump. Don't forget, I beat John Cena and Braun Strowman at the same time in the same place, and that makes me the odds on favourite to win Elimination Chamber. And that makes me a step closer to the WWE realizing it stands for 'Walk with Elias'. I like the sound of that. You know what else I like the sound of? My own voice. I wrote a song, it's called Elimination Chamber Blues. I'm going to need you all to silence your cell phones, hold your applause, and most importantly, shut your mouths.

Six men enter, but really only one really leaves/It ain't gonna be the big dog, 'cause no one believes/It's not going to be the Miz, he should just stick to MizTV/Remember all those songs I wrote, they weren't for you, they were for Maryse/Then we've got John Cena (drowned out by cheers for something) but the future's right here/Then there's Braun Strowman, we get it, you raise your arm and shout your name/I'll pour gasoline on your hopes, and make your dreams go up in flames."

Announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen, Braun Strowman."

Strowman's sitting on a chair with a stand-up base. "Well Elias says he's gonna win, but we know that ain't true/You look at me boy when I'm singin', 'cause I'm not finished with you/You may not realize you may not know this, but when this song is over, you're gonna get these hands! And well, I guess I don't know my own strength, I broke the strings, I can't play this anymore, so there's really only one thing left to do with it."

Braun tosses it over his back like Elias' guitar, Elias readies his own guitar, tries to reason with Braun, pleads with him to put both their instruments down, Braun obliges, Elias sneak attacks him, picks up the guitar, Braun chops him in the chest, running powerslam, Elias crawls up the ramp, Braun grabs the upright bass, follows him up the ramp, breaks it over Elias' back.

Please let him win the Chamber. If there's a soul left in Vince McMahon, please let him pin Roman and win the Chamber.

Finn Balor vows to win tonight's match via hand-cam.

Match Seven: Sheamus vs. Roman Reigns

Lockup, break, lockup, Sheamus with a rear waistlock, arm wrench, Roman reverses into a hammerlock, Sheamus forces a rope break, chops, punch to the gut, European uppercut, headbutt, Roman with punches to the gut, punch in the corner, whip, reversed, Roman with a clothesline, Sheamus to the floor, Cesaro gives him a pep talk, Sheamus back in the ring, Roman with punches, clotheslines him over the top rope, Sheamus drags Roman to the floor, punches, Roman tosses him into the barricade, then a second time, third time, Cesaro with a distraction, Roman scares him off, Sheamus with a fireman's carry senton, commercial.

Back on air, Sheamus has Roman in a keylock, knees to the face, keeps the hold locked in, Roman powers out, clotheslines, Sheamus with a big boot, toss to the ring post, Irish Curse, stomps to the gut, Cloverleaf, Roman powers out, Samoan Drop for two, Superman Punch, blocked with a knee, White Noise for two, Brogue Kick, blocked with a Superman Punch for two, Roman calls for a spear, Sheamus catches him with a knee, Roman with a sit-out powerbomb for two, Cesaro distracts, Sheamus with a rollup for two, knee lift for two, Roman to the floor, Cesaro charges at him, Roman tosses him to the apron, Superman Punch, Sheamus tackles Roman from behind, Roman tosses him into the ring post, drive-by, reversed into a clothesline, both men back in the ring, Sheamus goes up top, leaps, Roman catches him with a spear for three.

Match begins during a commercial. Back on air, Bray and Matt are beating each other on the apron, Crews knocks Bray off the apron, asai moonsault, clotheslines to Rollins and Balor in the middle of the ring, Balor presses Crews to the apron, swing kick, Balor and Rollins trade kicks, Balor with a double foot stomp, neckbreaker to Bray for one as Matt breaks the count, punches Balor, whip, Balor with an elbow, goes up top, Matt with a punch, crucific bomb, blocked by a Rollins superkick, Balor with punches to Rollins, Rollins with a superkick to the gut, Balor responds with a Slingblade, Rollins responds with a superkick, Bray hits Rollins with a running crossbody, Sister Abigail, reversed into a rollup for two, superkick for two, Balor breaks the count after Bray has already kicked out, Rollins tosses Balor to the floor, stomps Matt to the floor, goes up top, Crews punches him, superplex, blocked, Matt and Finn punch Crews, Tower of Doom, interrupted by a Bray shoulder tackle, tosses Balor to the floor, punches to Matt, tosses Crews off the top rope, hangman's STO to Rollins, neckbreaker to Crews for two, commercial.

Back on air, Bray clotheslines Balor in the corner, spider pose, Matt applauds for him, ducks a clothesline, hits a series of punches, clothesline in the corner, bulldog, blocked, hits a Side Effect, one for Balor, goes up top, elbow drop to the back of Bray's neck, Twist of Fate, blocked by a top rope Rollins clothesline, Rollins chops Bray, punches, whip to the corner, reversed, Rollins with a boot, boot to Crews, Blockbuster to both men at once, suicide dive to both men individually, suplex into a Falcon Arrow on Crews, kick, kick to Bray, Bray responds with a clothesline for two, Balor with a Slingblade to Bray, corner dropkick to Bray, goes up top, Seth Rollins meets him, superplex, blocked, Balor with a punch, Rollins with punches, Phoenix Splash to Bray, blocked, Bray goes for Sister Abigail, blocked, Matt with a Twist of Fate to Bray for two as Balor hits a double foot stomp to the back, Rollins with a Curb Stomp to Finn for two as Crews breaks the count, Crews and Rollins trade punches, Rollins gets the better of it, Crews with a gorilla press, Rollins slides off, misses a kick, Crews with a Samoan drop, standing moonsault for two, Rollins with punches, Ripcord Knee, blocked, Crews with an enziguri, standing shooting star for two, goes up top, Matt grabs his legs, punches to the back, goes for a top rope Side Effect, Crews with elbows, Bray pulls Matt off the apron, Sister Abigail on the floor, rolls into the ring, punches Crews from behind, turns him around on the top rope, punch, superplex, Finn and Rollins make it a tower of doom, Finn and Rollins both cover Bray for a three count.

Match Result: Ambiguous

Raw goes off the air with the ref trying to explain to them that they both got hte count. What?